Sweet Corn Facts

What's the story behind corn? For one thing, it's the third most important crop in the world. Sweet varieties are consumed as vegetables (high in natural sugars, less mature, and juicier), while other varieties we consume as grains (starchier, fully matured, and dried).

About the plant

The tassel at the top of a corn stalk is the male flower. It releases millions of grains of pollen, and some of that pollen is caught by the corn silk on the ear, which is the female flower. There is one piece of silk for each kernel of corn. The average ear of corn has 500 to 1000 kernels, arranged in an even number of rows, typically 16. A corn stalk can grow 7 to 10 feet tall over its lifetime.

Corn’s very long history

Corn is native to the Americas. The earliest known evidence of domesticated corn is 8000 B.C. in what is now the Rio Balsas region of Mexico, grown by ancient Indians. Indirect evidence suggests corn may have been domesticated even earlier, perhaps 10,000 years ago!

How corn got its name

The word “corn” originally referred to other grains — often whichever grain was the most important within a given region. In England, corn meant their primary crop of wheat. In Ireland and Scotland, the same word meant oats. Some Germans refer to rye as “korn.” Early American settlers referred to “corn on the cob,” or “corn” as we know it today. Where did corn’s scientific name come from? Columbus and Spanish explorers acquired the name “maize” for this crop from Taino Indians of the Caribbean region, and that word was later translated into Greek: Zea mays.

Nutrition

Corn is cholesterol free. It’s a good source of vitamin C and A, potassium, thiamine and fiber, and it’s very high in antioxidants. Corn on the cob and cut corn is a 100% whole grain. Corn is high in natural sugars/starches, as well as amino acids, and when combined with beans or other legumes, it can provide a balanced protein. See other sweet corn health facts

Grow it... for those of you who love to garden, Mirai sweet corn is always available from our Online Store

Buy it... During
the harvest season, fresh Mirai sweet corn is available at our farm
stand and over 40 farmer's markets (see "Countdown to Corn" on the upper
right of this page for the estimated harvest date).